July 24: At the Capitol This Week

Last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick did everything in his power to fast-track bills attacking access to reproductive health care. Still, activists were there to meet lawmakers every step of the way. Nearly 600 Texans made it to the One Texas Resistance Rallyon Tuesday to oppose Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick’s extreme agenda. On Friday and Saturday, Planned Parenthood advocates testified in committee hearings against dangerous anti-abortion bills. At Planned Parenthood Capitol Takeover Daythis Wednesday, we’re going to show lawmakers that we will never back down from the fight! Join us.

Bill Targeting Planned Parenthood Patients Moves to Senate Floor

On Friday, the Senate Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee heard public testimony on SB 4 by Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown), which would prohibit local government entities from partnering with health care providers that provide abortions or are affiliated with an abortion provider. In committee, Sen. Schwertner admitted that the only provider being targeted by this bill is Planned Parenthood. If it succeeds, Planned Parenthood would be barred from activities such as participating in city and county health fairs for free HIV and STD testing or partnering to distribute mosquito spray to prevent the spread of Zika. SB 4 is nothing more than an attack on access to reproductive health care. Texas communities need more care, not less. Our best chance at defeating this legislation is to make sure the Speaker of the House, Representative Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) knows that Texans oppose more attempts to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers.

The Senate HHS and Business & Commerce committees advanced three more anti-abortion bills on Friday and Saturday. SB 10 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) requires duplicative physician and facility reporting of complications that result from abortion, despite the fact that abortion is one of the safest medical procedures in the U.S. This bill perpetuates the myth that it isn’t. SB 73 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler) increases reporting requirements for minors receiving abortion services under the veil of “transparency,” although there is no clear purpose for the state to collect such information. SB 8 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-The Woodlands) would prohibit all health insurance plans from offering coverage for abortion and makes it so Texans enrolled in any insurance must purchase supplemental coverage outside of their plan or pay out of pocket. Banning abortion coverage explicitly puts women’s health and wellbeing at risk by not allowing a person to insure themselves for all emergency situations, and by not including an exception for rape or incest. These bills are now headed for debate on the full Senate floor, which may take place as early as today.

A broad coalition of organizations including Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, ACLU of Texas, United We Dream, Indivisible #Txlege, and more are working to organize direct actions every day of the special session. Join the Facebook group to be updated on the daily actions or sign up to receive email alerts. Read our open letter denouncing Gov. Abbott’s extreme politics.